TL;DR:
Shadow and zombie APIs are hidden, unmanaged, or forgotten connections that quietly expose businesses to data leaks and fraud. In light of Zimbabwe’s rapid digital transformation, security visibility and API governance must be treated as a business priority.
You cannot secure what you cannot see.
Across Zimbabwe’s business landscape, more companies rely on digital connectivity than ever before. Banks linking mobile payments, telecom providers enabling USSD services, and even delivery services integrating real-time delivery tracking depend on application programming interfaces (APIs). APIs are the wiring behind modern operations. However, while many of us enjoy the seamless experience of the frontend, a growing vulnerability hides in plain sight: shadow APIs.
Many enterprises in Zimbabwe may not even be aware of how many APIs are in use across their systems, let alone which ones are adequately controlled and protected. This lack of visibility presents not just one but four costs:
- In technology
- In data integrity
- In compliance
- In business reputation
Read on to learn more about these security threats and discover how to protect your organisation against the associated risks.
The Unseen APIs Operating Outside Your Control
Two categories of risky APIs are common within most organisations. It is important to understand these and define them accordingly.
Shadow APIs are those created without proper approval or documentation. They are often developed by teams seeking speed or convenience and then deployed without full oversight.
Zombie APIs are those that linger after their core function has ended. These may once have been legitimate or useful, but are no longer actively managed or secured.
Both types of risky APIs expose organisations to unauthorised access, data breaches, or manipulation.
According to the Akamai State of Apps & API Security 2025 Report, global web application and API attacks rose to over 311 billion in 2024, costing organisations an estimated USD 87 billion annually. Similarly, CybelAngel’s 2025 API Threat Report found that 99% of organisations experienced at least one API-related security incident in the past year.
A Rakuten SixthSense analysis (2025) lists shadow and zombie APIs among the most persistent threats to digital enterprises, noting that API sprawl is now a key driver of vulnerability in large-scale networks.
The F5 2025 State of Application Report states that 58% of organisations identify untracked or deprecated APIs as one of their biggest pain points.
In Zimbabwe, companies often integrate with multiple mobile-money systems, regional logistics platforms, and third-party services. Undocumented or untracked APIs can easily proliferate across departments and vendor systems in such an environment, and every undocumented connection is a potential entry point.
How Shadow APIs Quietly Hurt Businesses
Without adequate governance and cybersecurity provisions, digital transformation in Zimbabwe and the sub-Saharan region will falter and struggle to keep pace.
Globally, APIs are now one of the most common attack vectors. In 2024, Check Point Research found that one in every 4.6 organisations experienced an API-related attack each week, representing a 20% year-on-year increase.
These risks are not hypothetical. Across industries such as finance and retail, similar API oversights have been observed internationally, from unmonitored testing endpoints to reused authentication tokens and duplicate payment integrations. Each represents a type of failure that could occur in any fast-growing digital ecosystem.
The Imperva Shadow APIs Explainer (2025) summarises the issue succinctly: “If an API is not known, it cannot be secured.”
When APIs operate outside visibility, they undermine security, operational efficiency, compliance, and customer trust. The cost of inaction compounds over time.
Discover. Secure. Govern.
Good API governance begins with visibility. If an enterprise cannot map and monitor its APIs, it cannot secure them effectively.
Key best practices include:
- Automated API discovery and inventory of all active endpoints, including legacy or undocumented APIs.
- Continuous authentication and encryption of traffic, backed by behaviour-based anomaly detection.
- Proactive deprecation management to retire obsolete APIs safely and completely.
At Gikko, these practices are at the heart of our API security services. Our solutions enable:
- Real-time API traffic monitoring and analytics.
- Intelligent discovery to detect shadow and zombie APIs.
- Governance frameworks that ensure every API is logged, secured, and compliant.
By combining continuous visibility with layered defence, Gikko delivers enterprise-grade protection tailored for Zimbabwe’s fintech and enterprise sectors.
Our work in this space was recognised in 2025 at the Customer Experience Association of Zimbabwe (CXAZ) 14th Service Excellence Awards, where we won in the category for Technological Advancement and placed 2nd Runner-Up in the Tech Support Services Sector.
Building Safer Digital Ecosystems Together
API security is no longer a technical side note. It is a strategic necessity that shapes customer confidence and organisational resilience.
The path forward is clear:
- Discover every API in your environment.
- Secure each connection with strong governance and monitoring.
- Govern continuously, ensuring visibility and accountability across every digital layer.
The enterprises that thrive tomorrow will be those that take control today.
Gikko helps organisations across Zimbabwe build that foundation of digital trust, ensuring that every connection, transaction, and customer interaction remains visible and secure.
Don’t wait for a breach to highlight your vulnerabilities. Talk to Gikko today about securing defenses against the hidden threats of shadow APIs.
FAQs
What exactly is a shadow API?
A shadow API is an application interface that operates without official approval, documentation, or monitoring. Developers often create them for testing or convenience, but they can expose sensitive data if left unmanaged.
How are shadow APIs different from zombie APIs?
Shadow APIs are new, undocumented connections; zombie APIs are older endpoints that remain active even after becoming outdated. Both create risks through a lack of oversight.
Why are shadow APIs a growing issue in Zimbabwe?
As more local enterprises integrate mobile payments, logistics platforms, and cloud services, the number of APIs multiplies. Without a central inventory or monitoring tool, many APIs remain invisible to IT teams, leading to data leaks or fraud.
How does Gikko help reduce these risks?
Gikko provides API Security Services that discover, secure, and govern APIs across your enterprise. The system continuously monitors traffic, detects anomalies, and maintains compliance across all active endpoints.